Improvement in water-meters



J. JOHNSON. Water-Meters.

No. 197,859. Patented Dec. 4,1877.

J ".FETUis, PHOTO-LITHOGRAP UNITED STATES PATENT-I OFFICE.

JONATHAN JOHNSON, OF LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN WATER-METERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 197,859, dated December 4, 1877; application filed March 3, 1877.

which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains' to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and t0 the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The object of this invention is to improve that class of meters commonly called rotary metersby so arranging the induction-openings as to cause the flow of liquid through the compartment containing the measuring-wheel to be always at nearly an equal velocity, and under substantially the same pressure, the quantity of fluid admitted to the compartment being exactly in proportion to the amount drawn from it and the invention consists in the construction and arrangement of the induction valves and openings, and in other combinations of devices, which will be first fully described, and then specifically pointed out in the claims.

Figure 1 of the drawings is avertical longitudinal section through the meter, showing the relative arrangement of the different parts. Fig. 2 represents a plan of the upper side of the internal case, exhibiting the arrangement of the inlet-valves and their balanced levers. Fig. 3 shows the measuring-wheel with its feathering floats. Fig. 4 is a sectional view of one of the inlet-valves; and Fig. 5 presents a section of the jet and its strainer.

The case A contains the wheel-chamber, and from it extends the outlet-duct B. Secured to the top of this case A, by bolts or other suitable means, is the casing G between which and the lower case is formed the receivingchamber I, into which the water or other fluid comes through the inlet-pipe D. Surmounting this casing is the lid-covered dial-box E, which protects the registering-dials and the trainof gearing by which they are operated. To the bottom of the case A is applied, and firmly secured, the plate F, thus completing an enumeration of the parts which cover and protect the mechanism employed in performing the work of measuring and registration, which will now be described. I

Secured within suitable recesses formed in the case A, and crossing'it diametrically, is the supporting-bar G, which carries the step or bearing a, within which rests the lower journal of the shaft b, carrying the measuring-wheel H. This wheel consists of a thin circular rim, connected to a hub upon the shaft b by suitable arms, and provided upon its periphery with a double series of hinged and feathering floats, c and d. The floats c are cup-shaped, and hinged upon a series of radially-project.- ing arms, a, in such a manner that, when the wheel rotates in one direction, their lower ends may rise to a horizontal position, thus allowin g them to pass easily through any fluid in which they may be immersed when moving in that direction; but if an attempt be made to turn the wheel in the opposite direction they at once fall, their lower ends resting against the top of the lower series of floats d, and presenting their whole surface to the action of the fluid. This lower series of floats d are hinged to radial arms in the same manner as the upper series, but are not cupped, and in .falling rest against the check-pins f, inserted into the rim of the wheel. The upper end of the shaft d does not pass upward through the case, but is journaled in an offset or adjustable bearing, 9, secured to, or otherwise inserted into the top of the case A. A pinion, h, upon the shaft serves to convey the motions of the measuring-wheel to the train of registering mechanism in the dial-box E through the agency of a shaft, 13, passing through and turning in a suitable journal-box inserted in the top of the case A. This shafti is provided with a gear-wheel, gearing into the pinion it upon the shaft 1).

In the upper end of the shaft iis formed a socket, which receives the lower end of the spindle k, the upper end of which carries a pinion, which gives motion to the train of gearing in the dial-box. This train of gearing, as well as the dials, are similar to those in common use for like purposes, and does not, therefore, require any specific description.

It will be observed that, by pivoting both ends of the measuring-wheel shaft within the wheel-chamber, the friction caused by the packing which wouldbe requiredif the shaftpassed through the case directly into the dial-box is Wholly avoided, whilethe small amount caused by the slow-revolving andslender'spindle is scarcely appreciable, and does not affect the -movement of the wheel.

gle of about forty-five degrees, and so placed" that the jet of water passing through it shall strike .directly upon the cup-shaped floats 0, thus giving motion to the wheel and registering apparatus. Over the entrance to the tube is placed a strainer, which prevents the obstruction of the orifice m by extraneous matters.

It is evident the jet tube would not allow a sufficient quantity of water to pass through for all the purposes required of a water-supply; therefore some provision must be made to furnish this increased quantity of water when it is desired. In order to do this I insert in the top of the case A two or more valves, L and L. These valves are placed within a tubular casing, which extends a short distance within the wheel-chamber, the valves themselves being of any of the well-known conical-seated varieties, or others which are opened by a vertical movement.

Stems n are attached vto them, which pass up through the ends of the bifurcated levers M and M, a pin being passed through the end of each stem, so that when the valves are pressed upon they shall pull down upon the levers. Theselevers are pivoted at O, and provided at th eir' outer ends with segment-shaped weights 1? and P, which enter the annular recess between the casings.

It is evident that if so much water is drawn from the outlet-duct as to lower the pressure in the wheel-chamber sufficientlybelow that in the receiving chamber to overcome the resist ance of the weighted levers, the valves will open and allow a greater quantity of water to enter the wheel-chamber, and as they may be so weighted as to open with slightly-different pressures, they will only open sufficient to supply the demand made upon the meter. Further, when the induction-chamber isrelieved of water byfree eduction,the pressurethereby being unsubdued acts with such force upon the measuring-wheel that the registration would be excessive, to remedywhich I have arranged for the discharge of varying quantities of water upon diiferent sections of the measuringwheel, so that the greater the flow and force, the shorter will be the time of its action upon the wheel, thereby causing the registration to correspond with the quantity of water that has passed through the meter, regardless of the time occupied in its passage.

I am aware that measuring-wheels of meters have been constructed with a single series of hinged floats placed diagonally about their peripheries but this method of construction did not give to the face of the floats a double incline, so that the water should first impinge upon a surface of the float slightly inclined, but which inclination should increase as the force of the water became less. This could only be accomplished practically by using two sets of hinged floats, set at different inclina tions, for if the single float were curved, or given a double inclination, its friction, while being dragged through the water, would be greater than the effect obtained by the change of shape. 4

Having thus described myinvention,1claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, the following:

1. The jet K, provided withtheorifice m and strainer, and inserted in the case A of a fluidmeter, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. The receiving-chamber, weighter, inletvalves, and jet K, in combination with the wheel-chamber and measuring-wheel,'with its attached registering apparatus, substantiallyas and for the purpose specified.

3. A fluid-meter, provided with anieasuringwheel, H, having. two sets of hinged floats, c

' JONATHAN JOHNSON.

Witnesses S. A. TERRY, T. H. Sono r'r. 

